[muzani]

I dislike references because:

1. People can lie in support of their friends, or be bad judges of ability. A project manager might vouch that this guy is godlike when the reality is that they've just been working late whenever the boss is around and hacks everything together clumsily.

2. Some people don't want their best employees to leave, so they won't want to give a strong recommendation to someone, especially if that person is currently employed.

3. Whatever circumstances that causes one to leave a job might not put them on the best terms.

I feel that recommendations are sometimes like asking someone's ex about their character.